Maxim Sokolov, who made 43 saves, was 1 save better than Vasily Koshechkin today in a goaltending duel. Ex-Lightning forward Martin Cibak had a minor penalty in the match for Nizhnekamsk while former Lightning draft pick Denis Kazionov also had a minor penalty in the match for Cherepovets. Cherepovets gets CSKA next on Thursday.

Nikita Gusev was scoreless in 4:36 in CSKA's 2-1 win over Dynamo Riga. The forward had just 5 shifts in the match. Ex-Lightning forward Martins Karsums had a goal for Riga. CSKA gets Cherepovets next on Thursday.

Jaroslav Janus (pictured) turned away 23 shots and 2 of 3 shooters in the penalty shot session to lead Slovan to a 2-1 win over Spartak Moscow. Ex-NHLer Miroslav Satan had the winner in the shootout for Bratislava. Slovan also features former Lightning defensemen Vladimir Mihalik and Josef Boumedienne. Slovan plays Dynamo Minsk next on Thursday.

Nikita Gusev (pictured) assisted on a Second Period goal and had 6:43 of ice time in CSKA's 5-3 win over Donetsk. Ex-NHLer Alexander Radulov had 1 goal and 1 assist in the win for CSKA. They face Dynamo Riga next on Monday.

Jaroslav Janus made 28 saves in his KHL debut, but allowed both shooters to convert in Bratislava's 3-2 shootout loss to Dynamo Riga. Ex-Lightning forward Martins Karsums had 1 goal and 1 assist in the victory for Riga. Slovan Bratislava moves on to face Spartak Moscow on Monday.

Nikita Gusev only played 3:15 today, but that was enough to get caught on the ice for the lone goal in CSKA's 1-0 loss to Spartak Moscow. CSKA is off until Saturday when they'll face KHL newcomer Donetsk.

Nikita Gusev (pictured) did not appear for CSKA Jr. in their 2-1 opening night defeat against the defending champions, Omsk Jr. CSKA's KHL side has their opening match on Wednesday against Spartak Moscow.

The European regular season will begin tomorrow, 9/1 with matches from the Russian junior league, the MHL, before the big boys start on Tuesday when Dynamo Moscow and Avangard Omsk square off in the KHL. For the Lightning's Russian prospects, their clubs' schedules for the next week are as follows:

Note that, as of right now, Nikita Gusev (pictured), Andrei Vasilevski, and Nikita Nesterov are currently listed on their respective clubs' MHL rosters, but are subject to potential call-up to the KHL throughout the year. Vasilevski looks to be locked into the MHL though, with Ufa's top club currently boasting veteran goaltender and former Canadiens draft pick Vadim Tarasov and ex-Syracuse Crunch netminder Iiro Tarkki.

Meanwhile, Yaroslavl may be the landing spot for goaltender Jaroslav Janus, according to reports out of Slovakia. Janus has been playing for KHL newcomer Bratislava during the preseason, but it appears he has been compelled to leave the Slovakian club by Yaroslavl, which holds his KHL draft rights, because the team is thin in net between inexperienced Nikita Lozkhin and their struggles to get Curtis Sanford in their lineup. So, Janus may even find himself playing on an emotional opening night for a Yaroslavl club he hasn't even played a preseason game behind. Recall a year ago that Yaroslavl's team perished in a tragic plane crash that led to the team pulling out of participating in the KHL last year.